Car-coupling



(No Mqdel.) 2 sheets-sheen. H. O. BUHOUP.

GAR COUPLING.

rim-491,207. Patented Feb. 7, 1893.

w C I um Model.) zsneets-sheet 2.

H. c. BIT-HOUR GAR COUPLING? No. 491,207. Patented Feb. 7, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY c. BUHOUP, F oHIoAeo, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,207, dated February7, 1 893.

Application filed August 25, 1892- $erial No. 444,086. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY O. BUHOUP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure l is a plan view, partly in section, of a coupler head embodyingmy invention, the operative devices being shown in the positions theyoccupy when coupled. Fig. 2 is a plan, thereof, partly in sectionshowing the positions the parts occupy at the instant the parts are setfor uncoupling. Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in section, showing therelation the parts assume in either coupling or uncoupling. Fig. 4 is afront elevation of the coupler, the parts occupying the positions shownin Fig. 1, the tail-piece of the knuckle being in section on the linea:--0c Fig. 1, and the remainder of the knuckle removed. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the wing lock (or locking block) showing a modifiedconstruction, for actuating the same by the pin. Fig. 6 is a View of amodified form of spring mechanism for actuating the knuckle or revolvinghook coupler.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of that class of twin jawcouplers wherein the knuckle or revolving hook coupler, is automaticallyactuated either directly or indirectly, by spring mechanism, andconsists, generally stated, in the combination with a spring actuatedknuckle and wing lock of a pin and inclines for actuating the wing look,as will hereinafter more fully appear, and finally be pointed out in theclaims.

For purposes of illustration I have chosen that class of twin jawcouplers, generally known as the Janney type -but herein disclaim anyintention of limiting the invention thereto.

I will now proceed to describe the invention more fully so that othersskilled in the art'to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings A, indicates the coupler head which may be of anydesired pattern provided with the usual guard arm B,ears C,

E indicates a wing-lock, or locking block,

either pivoted on, or having for its pivot, the pin F. In case, aspreferred, the pin F forms the pivot of the wing lock E, said pin may beprovided at its lower end with a transverse pin a, the ends of whichlatter pin rest and move in inclined slots 9 formed in an annular boss Gon the under side of the head A, so that when the pin F is raised to theposition indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4, said pin will be rotated andcarry the wing lock E with it. If desired, however, the inclines may beformed in the eye of the lockingblock or wing lock Eas at f, Fig. 5inwhich case the ends of pin (2 will terminate in said inclines within theeye of the wing lock, andthe vertical rise of the pin E (to the positionshown in dotted line Fig. 4) will cause the wing lock to rotate on thepin instead of with the pin.

The outer end of the locking block or wing lock E is usually formed withprojections h h, adapted to enter recesses Min the top and bottom wallsof the head A, to limit the movement of the locking block and, while inthe construction chosen for purposes of illustration the'rea'r face ofthe wing lock is adapted to form a bearing for the spring K, and itsfront face is curved to accommodate the sweep of the tail-piece d, it isto be understood that the particular form of the wing-lock orlocking-block E will be adapted to the particular form of springmechanism usedas is well understood by the skilled mechanicfarniliarwith couplers.

In carrying out my invention I have selected, a bow-shaped spring K,pivoted, at substantially its center 7c, in the head A, with one of itsarms is extendingback of the tail piece d of the knuckle, and the other,10 back of the wing-lock E, and so arranged with relation thereto, thatone or the other of said parts must be moved out of its normal positionin the act of coupling or uncoupling, and one arm of the spring orspring mechanism put temporarily in tension, or under compression. Itwill be evident to a person skilled in the art that this springmechanism for antomatically actuating the knuckle is not necessarilyasingle spring, as two or more springs may be. used, nor need it be onlya spring, as a spring actuated two-part pivoted casting or block (of thegeneral character shown in Fig. 6) may be arranged to perform the samefunction and be the full equivalent of the spring K, shown in Figs. 1 to3.

The construction being substantially of the character hereinbeforepointed out, will operate as follows--When the co-acting elementsviz.the knuckle or revolving hook coupler, the locking block, or wing lock,and the spring mechanism which actuates the knuckle, occupy the relativepositions shown in Fig. 1 (coupled), or that shown in Fig. 3 (uncoupled,or set for coupling) the spring mechanism is relieved from compression.If new the pin (F) is raised to the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 4, the transverse pin (6) moving on the inclines (g orf, as thecase maybe) causes the rotation of the wing lock and'the compression ofthe spring mechanism (as indicated in Fig. 2). If this occur in the actof uncoupling, the instant the end of the winglock E passes thetail-piece of the knuckle,

- the resiliency of the spring mechanism, (which has been compressed bythe wing-lock) will forcibly project the tail-piece of the knuckle inthe direction of the arrow shown thereon and automatically eitheruncouple or set the knuckle for coupling up as the case may be. Ifhowever, this occur in the act of coupling up then the pressure will bemaintained on the spring mechanism by the tail-piece of the knuckleuntil it (the tail-piece) has passed the end of the wing-lock Ewhereupon the resiliency of the spring will come into play to move thewing look forward in the direction of the arrow marked thereon and lockthe knuckle, as shown in Fig. 1.

Iam aware that spring actuated wing locks, and spring actuated knuckleshave heretofore been devised, and also that a spring adapted to actuateboth the knuckle or pivoted jaw and the lock have heretofore beencombined therewith, and I do not herein claim the same, neither do Ilimit my invention to the character of spring mechanism for actuatingthe knuckle and lock herein shown and described, as any equivalent ofsuch element may be employed at the will of the constructor. But

Having described my invention as above, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a twin jaw coupler, the combinationwith a knuckle or revolving hook coupler, of a wing-lock, a pin, andinclines for actuating the wing look from the pin; substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

2. In a twin jaw coupler, the combination witha knuckle, or revolvinghook coupler, and a wing-lock, of apin and inclines for actuating thewing-lock, and a spring for actuating the knuckle from the wing-lock;substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a twin jaw coupler, the combination with a knuckle or revolvinghook coupler, of a wing-lock, a pin and inclines for actuating thewing-lock, and a pivoted bow spring for actuating the knuckle from thewing-lock; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. BUHOUP. Witnesses:

F. W. BITTER, J r.,- WM. E. DYRE.

